Satellite-derived bathymetry in island coastal zones: Technology

Authors

Shilin TANG, State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, College of marine sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; College of Marine Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Ocean Remote Sensing and Big Data, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China;Follow
Yuye HUANG, State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, College of marine sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Ocean Remote Sensing and Big Data, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Yongming LIU, State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, College of marine sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Ocean Remote Sensing and Big Data, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Jianping YIN, State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, College of marine sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; College of Marine Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Deke CHEN, State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, College of marine sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; College of Marine Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Ronggang HUANG, State Key Laboratory of Precision Geodesy, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
Shuang LI, State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, College of marine sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China

Keywords

Coastal zones, Satellite-derived bathymetry, Inversion principles, Technological development history

Document Type

Precision Support Technology for Marine Environment

Abstract

Shallow bathymetry data constitute the core foundational information underpinning the ecological, resource, and strategic values of island and coastal zones. Satellite-derived bathymetry has evolved into a key technical means for large-scale acquisition of shallow bathymetry information. Focusing on satellite-based lidar bathymetry, optical imaging bathymetry, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) bathymetry, this study systematically summarizes the core principles, applicable scenarios, technical strengths, and inherent limitations of each technology. It is shown that satellite-derived bathymetry has undergone an evolutionary shift from theoretical construction to practical application, and from single-method, single-data-source approaches to multi-technology, multi-source data fusion frameworks. In the future, to meet the growing demand for continuous, highly reliable, and refined shallow water bathymetry products in the management of island and coastal zone resources and ecological environment protection, it is imperative to further integrate multi-source satellite-based technologies and develop specialized bathymetric products and service platforms tailored to representative island and coastal applications.

First page

96

Last Page

106

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

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Recommended Citation

TANG, Shilin; HUANG, Yuye; LIU, Yongming; YIN, Jianping; CHEN, Deke; HUANG, Ronggang; and LI, Shuang (2026) "Satellite-derived bathymetry in island coastal zones: Technology," Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version): Vol. 41 : Iss. 1 , Article 9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3724/j.issn.1000-3045.20251219008
Available at: https://bulletinofcas.researchcommons.org/journal/vol41/iss1/9